Carol McGiffin
I think so
‘After Annabel Nnochiri was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she made a decision to leave her old life behind and go travelling. Her old life included a husband of 20 years and two, albeit grown-up, children. Nothing better than a deadline to spur you into doing something you’ve been meaning to do for a while but always thought “mañana mañana”, I suppose.
Some branded her selfish, while others have applauded her proactive actions.
Whether she was being selfish or not, I don’t know, because we don’t have all the facts. But what is admirable, and yet sad, is that she persevered for so long in something that, though of her own making, wasn’t making her happy.
What’s sadder is that it took a terminal cancer diagnosis for her to change it.
And therein lies the lesson we can all learn from Annabel’s story, which is a stark reminder that life is short.
I know very well how precious life is given that, just this year, I’ve lost two of my close family, and I’ve had my own brush with breast cancer. So I think a lot about what I’d do if I got the worst possible news tomorrow.
I like to imagine that I’d seize the day and do all those daredevil things I never wanted to do before that make up the classic bucket list. But, in reality, I’d probably just go and lie on a beach in Thailand!’